StatChat Waiver Wire: Week 16 Priority Adds and Streamers (Tuesday, Dec 23, 2025)

Waiver wire plan for Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season. Updated December 23, 2025.

The fantasy semifinals are here. These pickups are all rostered in 60% or fewer leagues and carry immediate Week 16 utility based on fresh roles, injuries, and matchups. FAAB ranges assume a $100 budget; adjust to your league.

[Tier 1 — Priority Adds (plug-and-play for Week 16)]

Workload or usage spikes that can swing a semifinal matchup.

Michael Carter, RB — ARI

• →FAAB: 25-35%
• →Availability: <60% in most platforms
• →Monitor: Emari Demercado mixed in off injury last week; monitor Friday’s report, but Carter led snaps/touches decisively. citeturn2search5

Arizona placed Bam Knight (ankle) on IR, and Carter handled 80% of RB snaps with 18 touches (94 yards) in Week 15. With the Falcons up next and James Conner/Trey Benson out, Carter projects as the lead back again with passing-down work. Volume plus a beatable run defense makes him an RB2/FLEX for Week 16. citeturn13search2turn2search5

• →Source: Cardinals place Bam Knight on IR; Carter expected to lead backfield

Darren Waller, TE — MIA

• →FAAB: 12-18%
• →Availability: 37% (Forbes) / ~50% Yahoo
• →Monitor: Listed limited midweek (knee/rest) but cleared to play; confirm Sunday inactives. citeturn5search4

Waller erupted for 7-66-2 in Week 15 and draws a Bengals defense allowing the most fantasy production to TEs. Miami is turning to rookie QB Quinn Ewers, which often funnels targets to the TE. Waller profiles as a top-8 option for Week 16. citeturn5search5turn5search0

• →Source: Week 16 outlook and roster % for Darren Waller

Colby Parkinson, TE — LAR

• →FAAB: 8-12%
• →Availability: 5-30% across platforms
• →Monitor: Short week; verify Adams’ final status. If Adams sits, Parkinson’s target floor rises. citeturn15news12

Parkinson has six TDs in his last six games and just posted 5-75-2. With Davante Adams nursing a hamstring and a Thursday tilt vs Seattle (a plus TE matchup), Parkinson remains a red-zone focal point for Stafford. Strong streaming TE with TD upside. citeturn3news13turn15news12

• →Source: Best TE waiver adds Week 16 (Parkinson headliner)

[Tier 2 — Streamers you can start (1-QB or deep leagues)]

Solid Week 16 floors with matchup-driven ceilings.

Jacoby Brissett, QB — ARI

• →FAAB: 5-8%
• →Availability: ~44% (NFL.com/Rotoballer)
• →Monitor: Arizona’s WR injuries are fluid, but Brissett’s usage has been stable; weather not a concern indoors. citeturn12search4

Brissett has multiple TD passes in 8 of his last 9 starts and posted 249-3-1 in Week 15. He now faces Atlanta after a competitive showing vs. Houston; volume and McBride’s emergence keep him in the mid-QB2 mix with streaming viability. citeturn13search1turn13search4

• →Source: Brissett Week 15 recap and Week 16 stream note

Tyler Shough, QB — NO

• →FAAB: 3-5%
• →Availability: Yahoo 9% / ESPN 7% / Sleeper 18%
• →Monitor: Listed hip but practicing fully; confirm Saints’ final report. citeturn6search1

Shough has 239+ pass yards in 4 of his last 5 with rushing juice (7+ attempts in 3 of last 4) and draws the Jets, who have traded away defensive pieces and have struggled. A viable dual-threat streamer if you need legs plus volume. citeturn0search2

• →Source: FantasyAlarm Week 16 QB waiver piece (Shough)

Kyle Monangai, RB — CHI

• →FAAB: 5-10%
• →Availability: <60%
• →Monitor: Monitor Bears’ WR room (Odunze/Burden) and D’Andre Swift’s status for game script; Monangai not on the injury report. citeturn15search0

Monangai’s settled into 11–15 touches most weeks with short-yardage work. Against Green Bay, he projects for goal-line chances and steady volume, especially with Chicago’s WR injuries tightening red-zone usage. Low-ceiling RB3/FLEX who can get you 10–12 PPR points. citeturn4search2

• →Source: PFN Week 16 Monangai start/sit and status

[Tier 3 — Upside WR FLEX plays]

Volume trends + exploitable coverage matchups.

Adonai Mitchell, WR — NYJ

• →FAAB: 6-10%
• →Availability: ~16–30%
• →Monitor: QB could be Brady Cook or a veteran; volatility remains, but target volume is stable. citeturn14news13

With Garrett Wilson shut down, Mitchell has at least six targets in every Jets game since joining and remains the primary downfield option. Even with QB flux, a locked-in route share makes him a volatile but useful FLEX. citeturn14search4turn14search7

• →Source: NBC Sports Waiver: Mitchell profile for Week 16

Troy Franklin, WR — DEN

• →FAAB: 5-8%
• →Availability: ~49–53%
• →Monitor: Bryant returned to full practice before Week 16; a healthy Bryant can cap Franklin’s targets. citeturn10search5

Franklin’s role expanded with Pat Bryant banged up; he delivered 6-85-1 in Week 15 and remains a red-zone/shot-play piece for Bo Nix. He’s on the WR3/FLEX radar given recent usage and scoring profile. citeturn10search0turn10news13

• →Source: Week 16 Start/Sit: Troy Franklin

Darius Slayton, WR — NYG

• →FAAB: 1-3%
• →Availability: ~22–41%
• →Monitor: Game script could swing to Saquon/PPR underneath; treat as volume-based floor more than ceiling. citeturn16search3

Ten Week 15 targets with a ~90% route rate under Jaxson Dart show bankable volume. Matchup vs. MIN isn’t ideal, but if you’re chasing usage in deeper formats, Slayton fits as a last-in WR3/FLEX. citeturn16search4turn16search3

• →Source: Sharp Football & FantasyPros on Slayton volume

[Tier 4 — Deep-League RB pivots]

Contingent workloads that can unlock 12–18 touches if injury notes break right.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB — WAS

• →FAAB: 3-6%
• →Availability: ~48%
• →Monitor: Coach Dan Quinn said Washington could split work if Rodriguez returns; watch midweek participation. citeturn4search5

Handled 18 touches for 96 yards in Week 15 with Chris Rodriguez (groin) sidelined. If Rodriguez remains limited, Croskey-Merritt stays in RB2/FLEX territory on volume, even in a tougher matchup. citeturn4search0

• →Source: Week 16 Worksheet: Commanders backfield usage

[Deep League Radar & Streaming Watch]

• →

  Gunnar Helm (TE — TEN) — Rookie has 4+ targets in 4 of 5 and scored in Week 15; active for Week 16 vs. KC. Deep streamer if you missed on Waller/Parkinson. citeturn11search3turn11search2 (FAAB: 1-3%)

  • →Source: Titans’ Gunnar Helm trending/active for Week 16
  • →Monitor: Timeshare with Chig Okonkwo persists; KC is a tougher TE matchup. citeturn11news13
  • →Availability: ~1–5%
• →

  Jalen Coker (WR — CAR) — Emerging role with back-to-back productive weeks before TB and 3/47 vs. Bucs. Deep PPR streamer as Bryce Young’s chain-mover. citeturn9news12turn9search1 (FAAB: 0-2%)

  • →Source: Week 16 WR sleepers include Coker
  • →Monitor: Listed with quad earlier this year; currently full or limited only—verify practice notes if adding. citeturn9search3
  • →Availability: ~6%
• →

  Jayden Higgins (WR — HOU) — Routes are stable but production dipped last two weeks; still a deeper-league FLEX with a modest target share and red-zone looks. citeturn8search2turn8search0 (FAAB: 0-2%)

  • →Source: Week 16 WR outlook for Higgins
  • →Monitor: Crowded pecking order behind Nico Collins and Dalton Schultz; treat as boom/bust only. citeturn8search3
  • →Availability: ~39%
• →

  Trevor Lawrence (if dropped) (QB — JAX) — If somehow on waivers, Lawrence has been a top-5 QB since Week 5 and remains a strong playoff starter; check your wire just in case. citeturn1search2 (FAAB: 8-12% if available)

  • →Source: Rotoballer Week 16 QB pickups (Lawrence/Brissett)
  • →Monitor: Matchups vary rest of way; still a talent bet with dual-threat utility. citeturn1search2
  • →Availability: ~47% (platform-dependent)

[Close it out]

Roster construction tips for semifinals: prioritize guaranteed RB/TE usage (Carter/Waller/Parkinson) over fringe WR dart throws unless you’re a big underdog, where Mitchell/Franklin can supply spike-week paths. Always re-check Friday participation and Sunday inactives for late shifts (e.g., Commanders RBs, Rams pass-catchers). Good luck in Week 16!

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Good luck on the wire—let's build championship depth.